Bottle cap former



June 4, 1935- G. A. BUTTREss 2,003,643

' LBOTTLE CAP FRMER Filed Feb. 2, 1934 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES i 2,003,643 BOTTLE oAr 'FORMER George A. Buttress, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Lonroy Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 2,

, s claims.

vI'his invention relates to a bottle cap forming mechanism and more particularly pertains to a mechanism for forming bottle caps out of brous sheet material of the character set forth in my co-pending application for United States Patent Serial Number 700,050, led November 28, 1933.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechyanism for forming circular blanks from sheet fibrous material, such as paper, and forming the blank with a series of marginal folds to form a dished cap adapted to be positioned over the mouth of a bottle and to subsequently have the marginal portion thereof folded inwardly against the sides of the bottle neck and at the same time provide a series of radially extending webs composed of overlyingareas of the marginal portion ofthe sheet material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character which will function to cut the blank and form it with the requisite folds in a single operation, whereby the caps may be produced rapidly and at a minimum of cost. 'Y p Y Another object is to provide-a mechanism of the above character which is simple in construction and eiiicient in operation.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear the invention resides in the parts and in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in` the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a view of the mechanism as seen in vertical section partly in elevation, and showing the parts in their normal position;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in their cap forming position;

Fig. 3 is a detail in horizontal section as seen on the liner 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows; v

Fig. 4 is aninverted plan view as seen on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan View taken on the line 5 5A of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a View in perspectiverof a cap as formed by the mechanism. Referring to the' drawing more specifically A and B indicates generally the punch and die members `of a combined punching 'and forming mechanism and between which members a sheet of fibrous material, such as paper, is fed and on operation of the punch and die member.Y a blank is struck from the sheet and formed into a bottle cap of inverted dish shape asshown in' Fig. 6; the blank being formed `offcircular outline and 1934, Serial No. 709,478 (c1. 93400) being bent to provide an outwardly flared or diverging marginal portion a which is crimped to provide a series of spaced pleats b consisting of united triangular shaped areas adapted to be disposed to overlie each other and connected together to form radially extending webs.

The punch member A embodies a cylindrical body portion 8 which is hollow and is formed at its lower margin with an annular punching edge 9 constituting the punching element. The die member B embodies a body member i0 formed with an upwardly opening recess ll on 'the' margin of which is mounted a countersunk ring l2 the inner upper margin of which constitutes an annular die adapted to cooperate with the annular punching edge of the punch A on downward movement ofV the latter to `strike out a circular blank of the sheet material of paper being worked. The annular punch and die members are disposed in axial alignment with each other.

The interior of the punch is formed with a series of folding elements C and thexdie member B is provided with a series of crimping elements D formed and arranged to cooperate with the folding elements C to eiect folding and crimping of the marginal portion of the paper blank struck out by the punch. The folding elements C are formed on a ring i4 tted into the body 8 of the punch member and comprise a series of teeth arranged with adjacent teeth spaced apart by recesses I6. The center of the recesses I6 extend radially from the center of the annular punching edge 9.

The lower portion of theinner faces of the teeth .l5 lead upwardly from the inner margin of the punch edge 9 from a plane spaced slightly above the lower edge of the punch; such Vfaces projecting on the plane of a truncated cone. The upper portions of the inner faces of the teeth e`x tend vertically on the plane of a cylinder. The lower portion ofthe inner walls of the recesses I6 extend on the plane of a truncated cone but at a greater pitch or angle than that of the lower portion of the teeth l5. The sides of the lower portions of adjacent teeth I5 forming the sides of the recesses l5 extending in parallel while the upper portions of the side margins of adjacent teeth converge toward each other with the side walls of the upper portions of the Vrecesses I 6 converging inwardly toward each other and intersecting on the radial central plane of the recess. The upper portionsoi the recesses are thus formed with triangular shaped side walls.

The cooperating crimping element of the die vmember B embodies a cylindrical annular head I'I arranged concentric with the circular die I2 and substantially on a plane therewith. The upper face of the head is formed with a central circular recess I8 bordered by a rolled rim I9.

The outer margin of the head Il is of a diameter slightly less than that of the cylindricalplane of the upper portions of the teeth I5, which latter are thereby adapted to be positioned to collectively encircle the head I'i in spaced relation thereto on` downward movement of the punch member. The head I'I is stationary relative to the die I2, being carried on a stem 22 extending downward- 1y into the lower wall of the recesses I I and fixed relative thereto.

The head I'I is provided with a series of radi-V ally extending slots 2I in each of which is mounted a vertically swinging arm 22 connected to the head by a pivot 23. Each of the arms 22 carries on its upper edge a crimping member 24 of a 'crossY sectional shape substantially conforming to the cross section of the upper portion of the recesses I6, there being an arm 22 with its associated crimping member 24 for each recess I6. The arms 22 are normally positioned with the' upper edges of the members 24 disposed on a plane slightly below the plane of the upper edge of the die I2; the outer ends of the arms being fitted with rollers 25 which seat on a plate 26 encircling the stem 20 beneath the head I 'I and which plate is carried on stems 2'! extending downwardly' through openings 2S in the bottom of the recess II and connecting with a plate 29 arranged beneath the die body I Il and normally abutting against the latter under the urge of a spring 30 which bears beneath the under side of the plate 29 and an abutment 3l carried on a stem 32 projecting Vdownwardly from the member I0. The abutment 3| is mounted for adjustmenton the stem 32 for varying the tension of the spring 30, it being connected to the stem 32 by screw threads. A lock nut 33 is screwed on the lower end of the screw 32 for retaining the abutment 3l in its adjusted positions.

The punch member A is equipped with an ejector E which embodies a plunger head 35 normally positioned in the cavity 36 formed in the plunger head above the crimping members C and which plunger head is carried on a stem 37 and is mounted for reciprocal movement with the punch member and is adapted to be held stationary for an interval on initial upward movement of the punch member to effect ejection of the formed cap in a manner common in punch and die constructions. The lower face of the plunger 36 is formed with an annular channel 38 of arcuate cross section arranged to coact with the rounded rim I9 on the stationary head I1 to forma central embossment on the top surface of the cap.

In the operation of thev invention the punch member A is reciprocated vertically with relation to the die member B in the manner common in punch and die operations. When the punch member is in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 1, a sheet of paper is placedover the die member whereupon the punch member is moved downwardly so as to cause the punching edge 9 of the punch member to penetrate the paper and pass through the die ring I2. The circular piece of paper thus formed will then be positioned interiorly of the punch member so that on continued downward movement of the latter the marginal portion of the paperwill be bent over the upper edges of the crimping members 24 astride of which the teeth I5 advance as the punch member moves downwardly.

At the same time marginal portions of the paper blank extending between adjacent crimping members 24, together with the portion being crimped will be forced downwardly by the action of the inclined surfaces of the lower portions of the teeth I5; the arms 22 being caused to move downwardly byv pressure of the die members through the blank thereon; the arms 22 swinging downwardly and forcing the plate 26 and also the plate 29 in a downward direction in opposition to the spring 3D.

Continued downward movement ofthe punch member to its lowermost position shown in Fig.

2 will cause the portions of the blank bent downwardly by the inclined lower ends of the teeth I5 to assume a substantially vertical position by the action of the vertical upper end portions of the teeth, and at the same timeA the marginal portions of the blank extending astride the crimpers 24 on the arms 22 will be forced into the upper end portions of the recesses I6 and thereby crimped into pleats of substantially triangular form. At this point of operation the arms 22 will have been swung downwardly and theplunger 35 will be broughtV to bear upon the upper surface of the central portion of the blank extending over the head I'I.

The punch member is then moved upwardly relative to the plunger 35 and restored to its uppermost position; the plunger beingv held stationary a short interval on initial upward movement of the punch member to eifect ejection of the formed cap out of engagement with the teeth of the folding element C. The arms 22, on release of the pressure of the punch member will be caused tomove upwardly under the urge of the spring 30 thereby effecting dislodgment of the formed cap from the die and permitting its removal. On ejection of the formed blank it will, by reason of the inherent spring of the paper, expand from the position it assumes when formed by the punch and die, that is, the marginal portion a of the formed blank will spring outwardly and likewise the side portions of the pleats b, crimped by action of the arms 22, will slightly spread apart. n l

The product thus formed is in readiness for application to the mouth of a bottle which is effected by suitable mechanism, constituting no part of the present invention. It will be understood that in applying the cap to a bottle the side portions of the pleats of the cap will be united together to secure the cap on the bottle against accidental removal.

I claim: f

1. In a punching mechanism for forming paper caps for bottles, a circular die, a punch cooperablewith said die to punch a circular blank, a head arranged centrally of said die, a series of `vertically swinging arms pivotally supported on said head and projecting radially therefrom, yieldable means for normally maintaining said arms in an uppermost position, crimping elements carried on the upper edges of said arms, and means-on` said punch member for bending the marginal portion of the blank over said crimping elements to form radially extending pleats on the marginal.V portion of said blank and also to form said marginal portion at an anglerelative to the central portion of the blank.

2. v In a punching mechanism for forming paper caos for bottles. a circular die, a circular punch cooperable with said die to form a circular blank, a series of teeth arranged interiorly of said die having inclined lower wall portions and vertically ,extending upper Wall portions, the side walls of said teeth being arranged to provide upwardly and inwardly tapered spaces between the upper portionsof said teeth, and vertically movable crimping elements associated with said die cooperable with said tapered spaces for forming radial pleats on the marginal portion of said blank.

3. In a mechanism for forming paper caps for bottles, an annular die, a circular punch associated With said die to form a circular blank, a series of spaced teeth arranged interiorly of said punch formed with upwardly and inwardly inclined lower end portions extending on the plane of a truncated cone, the inner faces of the upper ends of said teeth extending on a cylindrical plane, the side faces of the upper portions of said teeth inclining inwardly and converging upwardly, a series of radially extending vertically swinging arms associated with said die arranged interiorly thereof and adapted to register with the spaces between said teeth, crimping members carried on the upper face of said arms of angular cross section for cooperation with the spaces between the upper end portions of said teeth to form pleats on the marginal portion of the blank, and yieldable means for normally maintaining said swinging arms in an uppermost position.

GEORGE A. BUTIRESS. 

